Oct 8, 2020, 2:27 pm
Last edit by: slippahs
//TOPIC CHECK - STAY ON TOPIC//
Aloha - as a reminder to all, FT's rules specifically state: "FlyerTalk exists for the discussion of frequent flyer programs and the related travel experience. With the exception of the few areas specifically designated for the discussion of other topics, confine your comments as closely as possible to these topic areas and to the topic of the thread and forum in which you are posting." FlyinHawaiian and I recognize that it is easy to intertwine political commentary with the policies advanced by politicians that affect travel to Hawaii. However, we ask that you keep in mind the nature of this Hawaii forum and focus your attention on the policies and their impact on travel to/from/within Hawaii. Commentary about Hawaii's politicians are off-topic, belong in the OMNI forum, and will be deleted if posted on this thread. We ask for your kokua and cooperation. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Mahalo,
slippahs, Hawaii forum co-moderator
Aloha - as a reminder to all, FT's rules specifically state: "FlyerTalk exists for the discussion of frequent flyer programs and the related travel experience. With the exception of the few areas specifically designated for the discussion of other topics, confine your comments as closely as possible to these topic areas and to the topic of the thread and forum in which you are posting." FlyinHawaiian and I recognize that it is easy to intertwine political commentary with the policies advanced by politicians that affect travel to Hawaii. However, we ask that you keep in mind the nature of this Hawaii forum and focus your attention on the policies and their impact on travel to/from/within Hawaii. Commentary about Hawaii's politicians are off-topic, belong in the OMNI forum, and will be deleted if posted on this thread. We ask for your kokua and cooperation. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Mahalo,
slippahs, Hawaii forum co-moderator
When will Hawaii re-open for tourism?
Sep 16, 2020, 8:56 pm
#991
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: UA, Some Others
Posts: 286
Helpful to look away from Hawaii and see what others are doing and saying. A poll of 1000 Canadians support border closure to Americans despite the negative economic impact:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/can...722974?cmp=rss
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/can...722974?cmp=rss
Sep 16, 2020, 10:53 pm
#992
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,082
Governor announces pre-travel testing to start on October 15. https://www.kitv.com/story/42634902/...o-begin-oct-15
Positive step for visitors to Hawaii. A little more hopeful about our January visit.
Sep 17, 2020, 12:53 am
#993
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New York / Hawaii
Programs: UA Global Services, HH Diamond
Posts: 5,178
The odd thing is the interisland travel restriction remains in place through at least 10/1. After todays press conference, Ige released an additional statement saying he would consider extending it and is in discussions with island mayors about it.
Sep 17, 2020, 10:44 am
#994
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: SFO
Programs: UA
Posts: 200
I really doubt that. If you go to Vancouver, it feels like you're in Asia, particularly in the downtown area.
Sep 17, 2020, 11:04 am
#995
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,037
I would say Richmond over downtown Vancouver, but that line of discussion is off-topic for this thread and forum so I'll kindly ask that we table it.
Sep 17, 2020, 1:10 pm
#996
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: PDX, OGG or between the two
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 2,864
Governor announces pre-travel testing to start on October 15. https://www.kitv.com/story/42634902/...o-begin-oct-15
Sep 17, 2020, 1:56 pm
#997
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,618
Sep 17, 2020, 2:02 pm
#998
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,720
Another story here:
https://www.sfgate.com/travel/articl...g-15574550.php
Tempting to book but I'm not sure I want to spend 10 hours RT in a metal tube with strangers. OTOH, I suppose the Hawaii will be safer than other flights if most of the travelers are pre-tested, and presumably even safer for the return trip. Unfortunately my kids have a tough time getting up now for online schooling, so getting them up 3 hours earlier is not really feasible...
https://www.sfgate.com/travel/articl...g-15574550.php
Tempting to book but I'm not sure I want to spend 10 hours RT in a metal tube with strangers. OTOH, I suppose the Hawaii will be safer than other flights if most of the travelers are pre-tested, and presumably even safer for the return trip. Unfortunately my kids have a tough time getting up now for online schooling, so getting them up 3 hours earlier is not really feasible...
Sep 17, 2020, 2:05 pm
#999
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,037
It will only be 2 hours earlier if you book for arrival after November 1. 
Sep 17, 2020, 4:00 pm
#1000
Join Date: May 2012
Location: HNL
Programs: AS MVPG, HA Plat
Posts: 1,268
Probably another instance of the Gov and the Mayors not being on the same page, with Harry Kim among the likelier holdouts for continuing the interisland restrictions.
Sep 18, 2020, 6:44 am
#1001
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: UA/Hawaiian/Marriott
Posts: 840
There is no reason why we can't fly inter-island if we fly masked....
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Sep 18, 2020 at 7:28 am Reason: https://www.flyertalk.com/help/rules.php#stayontopic
Sep 18, 2020, 3:23 pm
#1002
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,618
Despite the testing option for 10/15 many hotels are not opening until much later. Hilton and 4 Season not accepting reservation until 12/15. Well the 4 Season is a bit confusing as they email me saying not until 12/15 but the website states 12/1 and accepts reservations. Many hotels are using this time to renovate and from what I saw some won't be ready until at least December.
Sep 18, 2020, 4:28 pm
#1003
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: HNL
Programs: AS MVPG
Posts: 236
It will amount to a soft reopening. Not a bad thing, necessarily, although the State is not big on iterative improvements and lessons learned.
Sep 18, 2020, 7:41 pm
#1004
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New York / Hawaii
Programs: UA Global Services, HH Diamond
Posts: 5,178
Island Mayors: Keep Us Closed
Hawaii Island/County mayor Harry Kim and Kauai Island/county Mayor Derek Kawakami said they were shocked by the governor's announcement to bring in the pre-testing program to the islands on October 15. Both said they were under the impression that a trial program would be rolled-out on interisland flights sometime later in October and that the pre-testing for trans-Pacific passengers would happen sometime later in the year.
Mayor Kim even said Hawaii County isn't ready to drop the interisland quarantine from the other islands anytime soon ...let alone open the gates to off-island visitors.
The only two people in the loop were Honolulu Mayor Caldwell and Maui Mayor Victorino, who are eager to welcome off-island guests.
Kawakami was developing the resort bubble concept because he assumed the pre-testing program wouldn't be ready this year ...and thought moving forward with the bubble would be able to get their feet wet with tourism while an interisland quarantine is gradually lifted.
Kim, who just extended the no-beach/no-park order, said he doesn't know how the Big Island will be ready to deal with this by 10/15. He said he wants to extend the interisland travel ban and is considering extending the no-beach/no-park rule too.
Are people really going to book travel to Hawaii anytime soon when it's unknown if they can island hop, leave their resort, or go to a beach? Especially when the island mayors and governor aren't on the same page?
Mayor Kim even said Hawaii County isn't ready to drop the interisland quarantine from the other islands anytime soon ...let alone open the gates to off-island visitors.
The only two people in the loop were Honolulu Mayor Caldwell and Maui Mayor Victorino, who are eager to welcome off-island guests.
Kawakami was developing the resort bubble concept because he assumed the pre-testing program wouldn't be ready this year ...and thought moving forward with the bubble would be able to get their feet wet with tourism while an interisland quarantine is gradually lifted.
Kim, who just extended the no-beach/no-park order, said he doesn't know how the Big Island will be ready to deal with this by 10/15. He said he wants to extend the interisland travel ban and is considering extending the no-beach/no-park rule too.
Are people really going to book travel to Hawaii anytime soon when it's unknown if they can island hop, leave their resort, or go to a beach? Especially when the island mayors and governor aren't on the same page?
Sep 18, 2020, 11:11 pm
#1005
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: PDX, OGG or between the two
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 2,864
I don't know if many remember Hawaii travel leading up to the quarantine. I flew to Maui 3 days before the quarantine started (and hotels, etc. were all wide open) on a Boeing 737 with 13 people on it. I don't think people are going to come storming back all right at once when they make the quarantine exemption. Whatever they do, I think it's going to be a bit of a soft reopening.
As for the different mayors, officials and Gov. Ige not being on the same page, this is nothing new at all. Same old story for the better part of a year now. Some of these mayors act like they are being hit out of left field with this quarantine exemption which is really pretty funny. This has been talked about for months now and has pretty clearly been coming at some point. There is still a month to get ready and any inability to do that is pretty obviously an attempt to keep the island closed to travel.
As for the different mayors, officials and Gov. Ige not being on the same page, this is nothing new at all. Same old story for the better part of a year now. Some of these mayors act like they are being hit out of left field with this quarantine exemption which is really pretty funny. This has been talked about for months now and has pretty clearly been coming at some point. There is still a month to get ready and any inability to do that is pretty obviously an attempt to keep the island closed to travel.